Steamboat-wheel.



No. 643,!46. `Patented Feb. I3, |900. J. C. MEDEREB, P. F. SLATTERY & G. C. FUSS.

STEAMBUAT WHEEL.

(Application iled Apr. 14, 1899.) N o M o d e l lthe U -bolts f.

' linirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MEDERER, OF ALLEGHENY, AND PATRICK F. SLATTERY AND GEORGE C. FUSS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM BOAT-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `.E'atent o. 643,146, dated February 13, 1900. Application filed April 14, 1899. Serial No. 713,004. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN C. MEDERER, a resident of Allegheny, and PATRICK F. SLAT- 'rnnr and GEORGE C. Fuss, residents of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steamboat-Wheels; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to steamboat-wheels.

The object of our invention is to overcome some of the objections to the ordinary styles of wheels, all of which will appear from the description which follows.

Our invention comprises, generally stated, a steamboat-wheel composed of the ordinary frame with the radially-extendin g arms reaching out from the center thereof and curved buckets carried by said arms and extending from the arms on a curve outwardly toward the largest diameter of the wheel.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an end View of our improved wheel. of the buckets. Fig. 3 is a View of a portion of a bucket looking into same; and Fig. 4 is a section on line et 4, Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each View.

In the drawings the letter a designates the central axis or shaft, and b the hub. Secured to said hub and radiating therefrom are the arms c. These arms are braced by the bracerods d and by the outer ring e. In this manner the framework of the wheel is provided, although it is of course apparent that the construction of the framework maybe modified without affecting the nature of our invention.

Secured to the outer ends of the radial arms c are the buckets F, which may be constructed in the following manner: Channel-irons f are secured tothe arms c on opposite sides thereof, said channel-irons being secured by means of The open ends of said U- Fig. 2 is an enlarged end View of one.

bolts are closed by the plates f2, which act to hold the channel-irons on that side of the arms in place, the nuts f3 pressing against said plates. These oppositely-arranged channelirons f are curved outwardly for the proper distance to form the buckets, and to these curved portions are secured the strips lt by means of the bolts h. To strengthen the buckets, the brace-rods@ are employed.` It is to be noticed that in such construction the curved buckets extend from the arms on a curve outwardly toward the largest diameter of the wheel.

A wheel constructed as above set forth when in motion will propel the boat without causing high waves, the action of the buckets being such as to create a very slight disturbance of the water. This is of great importance in narrow rivers and canals. Furthermore, such a wheel gathers more force from the water with less steam, and the stopping or turning of the boat is accomplished with less strain on the engines. Vhere the wheel is used in shallow water or when close to shore the above construction is of great advantage, as it gives greater impetus.

lVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Asteamboat-wheel comprisinga suitable frame provided with outwardly extending arms and curved buckets supported thereon, said buckets extending from the arms on a curve outwardly toward the largest diameter of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. Asteamboat-wheel comprising asuitable frame provided with outwardly extending arms, each of said arms supporting a pair of curved buckets and the buckets being curved in opposite directions the one to the other, said buckets extending from the arms on a curve outwardly toward the largest diameter of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. Asteamboat-Wheel comprisingasuitable frame, radial arms, channel-irons secured to opposite sides of said arms, said channel-irons being curved, and strips secured to said channel-irons, substantially as set forth.

4. Asteamboat-Wheelcomprisingasuitable' C. MEDERER, PATRICK F. SLATTERY, and frame, radial arms, channel-irons engaging GEORGEC.FUss,haVehereuntosetourhands. 1o

opposite sides of said arms, 'U -bolts securing JOHN C. MEDERER. said channel-irons to said arms, said channel- PATRICK F. SLATTERY. 'l 5 irons being curved outwardly, and strips se- GEORGE C. FUSS.

cured to said channel-irons, substantially as Witnesses: set forth. ROBERT C. TOTTEN,

In testimony whereof We, the said JOHN ROBT. D. TOTTEN. 

